Legal Definitions - subjective meaning

Subjective meaning refers to the specific, personal understanding or intention that an individual holds regarding their own words, actions, or a particular situation. It focuses on what a person *actually* thought or meant in their mind, rather than what an external, objective observer might reasonably infer from their conduct or statements. In legal contexts, determining subjective meaning can be crucial for establishing intent, interpreting agreements, or understanding a party's state of mind.

• Contractual Misunderstanding: Imagine a buyer and seller negotiating the sale of a unique antique clock. The seller states, "I'll include the 'restoration kit' with the purchase." The buyer subjectively understands "restoration kit" to mean a collection of original, period-appropriate parts for future repairs. The seller, however, subjectively meant a modern cleaning solution and polishing cloth. If a dispute arises over what was included in the sale, a court might need to consider the subjective meaning each party attached to "restoration kit" to determine if there was a true "meeting of the minds" or a fundamental misunderstanding that could affect the contract's validity.

• Criminal Intent: Consider a person who, during a heated argument, pushes another individual, causing them to fall and sustain an injury. The prosecution might argue that the person had the subjective intent to cause bodily harm, thus committing assault. The defense, however, might argue that the person subjectively intended only to create distance or push the other person away without any desire to injure them, even if their actions resulted in harm. The court would need to assess the individual's actual, subjective intent at the moment of the push to determine the appropriate charge or defense.

• Interpretation of a Will: A will contains a clause stating, "I leave my entire collection of rare stamps to my 'closest friend.'" The testator (the person who made the will) had several close acquaintances but always privately considered one particular individual, Mark, to be their "closest friend," even though they never explicitly told anyone. After the testator's death, another friend, Lisa, claims she is the "closest friend" because she visited more often. To resolve the dispute, a court might look for evidence of the testator's subjective meaning of "closest friend," perhaps through personal letters, diaries, or testimony from other individuals who knew the testator's private affections, to determine which friend the testator *actually* intended to benefit.